Nyaribari Chache MP Zaheer Jhanda has defended raising cash handouts to constituents from KSh500 to KSh1,000, saying the money comes from his salary. Videos of the distributions have gone viral online, prompting mixed reactions. Jhanda noted he began giving KSh500 per person in 2022.
Nyaribari Chache MP Zaheer Jhanda addressed a crowd in his constituency, openly announcing he had doubled cash handouts from KSh500 to KSh1,000 per person. He explained that he started the KSh500 distributions in 2022 as a personal investment before becoming MP.
"I have been campaigning since 2022, and at the time I was giving Ksh500 per person as appreciation; and now I have become your MP, the money will go up from five hundred to 1,000 shillings," Jhanda stated.
He urged residents to demand at least KSh1,000 from rival politicians. Jhanda said the funds come from his parliamentary salary, business earnings, and contributions from friends. Prior to election, he publicly pledged half his salary for Nyaribari Chache constituents.
"Before I became your MP, I told you that for my salary, half of it belongs to my family and me, while the other half is for the people of Nyaribari Chache," he added.
Civil society groups and critics have raised concerns that the handouts undermine citizens' dignity and resemble early voter bribery ahead of 2027 elections, though Jhanda insisted his re-election campaign launches on May 1, 2027.